Device for counting the number of picks in a fabric



Aug. 17, 1943. EDDY 2,326,769

DEVICE FOR COUNTING THE NUMBER OF PICKS IN A FABRIC Filed Oct. 24, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR:

A/nold Eddy Aug. 17, 1943. A. EDDY 2,326,769

DEVICE FOR COUNTING THE NUMBER OF PICKS IN A FABRIC Filed Oct. 24, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 1 Arnold Eddy Patented Aug. 17, 1943 DEVICE FOR COUNTING THE NUMBER or PICKS IN A. FABRIC Arnold Eddy, Middletown,

reet and mesne assignme to E. G. Dentay, Toronto Conn., assignor, by dints, of twenty per cent Ontario, Canada, and

IiiTfty per cent to Michael S. Striker, New York,

Application October 24, 1941, Serial No. 416,289

13 Claims.

My present invention relate to devices for counting the number of picks in a fabric as the same is being woven on a loom.

Myv invention has eiiicient device for counting the number of picks per unit of length, e. g. per inch, in a fabric, the construction of the device. being such that, without any calculation, it can be promptly ascertained from the reading of the instrument whether or not the fabric is being woven according to the requirements as to the number of picks per inch. Y

Another object of my invention consists inproviding a counting and indicating device which enables direct reading of the number of picks per unit of length and which instrument can be put into operation easily by hand and automatically stops operation after counting the number of picks in the required way.

. Still another object of my presentinvention consists. of a pick-counting device which can be permanentlymounted on a loom and put into operation at'any. time when it isdesired to know whether the fabric is being woven according to the requirements. c

A further object of my invention consists of a [mainly mechanical counting mechanism which is of sturdy construction and adapted to operate even under the hardest working conditions.

With the above objects in view, my present invention chiefly consists of a pick-counting device a part of the which comprises in combination loom adapted to carry out the same movement each time one pick is put into the fabric, a mecha nism for indicating the number of movements carried out by said loom part, a. coupling means adapted to connect the loom part and the indicating mechanism, and means adapted to operate said coupling means only while the woven fabric is moving that predetermined distance in which the number of picks has to-be counted.

As stated above, the operating means must be adapted to be connected by hand with the fabric while it is woven; it should be stressed thatv wherever in the following specification and claims this expression is used it is intended to comprehend not only constructions where the operating means are connected'with the woven fabrics it-' self, but also constructions in which the connection is made between the operating means and any part of the loom which. is moving at the same speed as the fabric. From the point of view of the present invention, direct connection between the operating means and the fabric is not of eminent importance: It is only necessary for its object a simple and along line 3-3 of Fig.

cific embodiments when read be connected with a moving at the same teristic for my invention are set forth in particu lar in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its .method.of operation, together with additional objects and'advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of spein connection with the accompanying drawings,in which;

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a pick-counting device in accordance with my present invention, adapted to indicate the number of picks per unit of length;

Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the device shown in Fig. 1 along line 2-2;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the same device Fig. 4 is a plan. view of the device shown in Fig. 1 during the counting operation;

Fig. 5 is another plan view of the same device after completion of the counting operation;

Fig. 6' is a plan view of a device similar to the one shown in Figs. 1 to 5, equipped with electrical coupling means;

Fig. 7 is a side view of contact means which may be used in connection with the electrical coupling meansshown in Fig. 6 in inoperative position;

Fig. 8-is a plan view shown in Fig. '7; and Fig. 9 is a side view of the contact means shown in Figs. 7 and 8, in operative position.

The embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 5 comprises, as mentioned above, a part of the loom of the coupling means adapted to carry out the same movement each time one pick is put into the fabric i woven on the loom. In this embodiment, this loom part is represented by the shaft 2 carrying out .a full rotation each time one pick is put into the fabric. This shaft may be the main shaft of the loom, or another rotating loom part revolving at the same speed as the main shaft.

The pick-counting device shown in these-figures comprises furthermore a mechanism 3 for indicating the number of movements carried out by this loom part, i. e., indicating the number of rotations of shaft 2, and coupling means 4 adapted to connect this loom part, i. e. shaft 2, and the indicating mechanism 3. It must be the fabric;

is arranged at such distance sliding member l4 engage the sharp contacting distance the number of in this case, however, the indicating device has to be built in a corresponding manner, i. c. it has to indicate during one, rotation of shaft 2 the correct corresponding number of picks put into the fabric. In th'esame way, while the picks are being put into the fabric, this loom part may perform a reciprocating movement, and the indicating mechanism 3 may count the number of these movements. Thus, wherever in the following description and claims one of the expressions part of loom" or loom part or adapted to carry out the same movement each time one pick is put into the fabric woven on said loom appear, these expressions should comprehend all embodiments enumerated above- The device shown in Figs. 1 to 5,. furthermore,

comprises means adapted to operate the, coupling 4 only while the woven fabric 1 is moving that predetermined distance in which thenumber of picks has to be counted. In the shown arm H or thelength of the contacting projection l9 or their combined length has to be equal to one inch.

The counting device describedabove is operatingin the following way: In Fig. 5, the countin'g device is shown in inoperative position. The

counting mechanism 3 shows no indication, the

clutch 4 is disengaged, and the sliding timing in direction of arrow embodiment, these means consist of a doublearmed lever 5 rotatably secured by pivot 6.1; base plate 1. Lever arm 8 engages the slidable part 9 of coupling 4. Spring l0 tends to turn lever arm 8 in counter-clockwise direction about.

pivot 6, causing ing members of coupling 4.

The other lever arm H of the double-armed lever is adapted to engage the timing device l2 which is regulating the time of engagement of coupling 4. This timing device consists, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, of a longitudinal slot l3 provided in base plate i, and of a sliding memslide in slot l3. This sliding disengagement of the cooperatmember I4 is provided with small pins on itslower face facing the fabrici; this fabric is moving in direction or arrow l5. Base plate I from fabric l' that pins E5 of the fabric when moving in slot l3. It must be noted that the front'part ll of. base plate 1 is bent upward'forming thereby an upward-extending slotportion Hi. When the sliding member E4 is carried by fabric i into this slot portion I8, its pins l5 become disengaged from the fabric 1 and the sliding member l4. ceases to move.

During its movement, the projecting portion E9 of sliding member I4 comes into contact with lever arm H and pushes the same in direction of arrow 20, engaging thereby coupling 4. Lever arm. H and the projecting portion l9 are shaped in such a manner that they are in operative contact'only as long as the sliding member and the fabric carrying this sliding member aremovingthat distance during which the number of picks has to be counted. Thus, if the projecting member I9 is provided with a edge, that part of lever arm H which is parallel to the edge of the sliding member M will have to be of that length for which the number of picks has to be indicated. However, it is also possible to provide lever arm H with an edge contacting the projecting portion i9 only at one point and to make the length of this projecting portion equal to that picks lhas to be deter-- In general, the added lengths of the projecting portion l9 and of the contacting portion of lever arm H in direction of arrow It, i. e. in direction of the movement of the woven fabric, must be equal to the predetermined distance for which the number of picks has to be counted. Usually, this distance will be equal to the unit of length, i. e. one inch. In this case, either the length of the contacting edge of lever mined for.

member l4 lies on the raised portion I! of base plate 1 in the slot portion .gaged from fabric I.

For operating the counting device, the sliding member I4 is put by hand into the position shown in Fig. 1 and is 15 pressed with pins l5 against fabric l, engaging thesame. Now, the sliding member I fabric l in direction of arrow 16 coming into contact with lever arm II and pushing the same lever arm 8 of lever 5 is turned in clockwise direction, thus engaging the cooperating members of clutch 4 and starting operation of the counting mechanism 3. This counting mechanism 3 is then operatedby shaft 2 for the duration of time that the sliding member l4is pressdirection of arrow 20,

ing the lever arm H in namely for that time during which the sliding member l4 and fabric mined distance, for instance, one'unit of length.

In the moment that the projection I9 becomes disengaged from lever arm ll, spring l0 forces lever 5 toreturn into its position shown in' Figs. 1 and 5, disengaging thereby the cooperating members of clutch 4 and stopping the movement of the indicating mechanism.' Thus, after having stopped, the indicating mechanism indicates the number of rotations carried out by shaft 2 while the sliding member l4 and fabric I have vmoved a predetermined distance, for instance,

lutions of shaft 2 is equal to the numbers of the fabric, thev indication of inone unit of length. Since the number of revopicks put into dicating mechanism 3 enables direct reading of the number of picks in a predetermined length, for instance in one unit of length of the fabric I, as the same'is being woven on the loom. The embodiment shown in Fig. 6 is very simi-' lar to the one described above: The arrangement of indicating mechanism 3, clutch 4, and rotating shaft 2 is identical. Only the operating lever and the mechanical timing mechanism are substituted by other means.

Lever 2|, substituted for the operating lever I 5, is turnably secured by means of pivot 22 to base plate 23. This base plate 23 is completely fiatand not provided with any bent-up portion. Spring 24 forces lever 2| to turn indirection of arrow 25, disengaging the cooperating members of clutch 4.- An electromagnet 26 is secured to lever 2| in such a manner that the same is forced to turn in direction of arrow 21 when the circuit 28 of this velectromagnet is closed.

This circuit 28 includes besides electromagnet 26 a source of current 29 and an electrical contact arrangement 30. The contact arrangement is very similar to the timing device l2 shown in Figs. 1 to 5. Theonly difference is that base plate 3| is made of insulating material and provided with two contact members 32 and 33 arranged in such a manner that both of them contact the metallic sliding contact member 34 when the same is sliding in slot IS in the way described above. The sliding contact member 34 thus serves as part of circuit 28 and closes this circuit for that time during which it moves l8 of slot I3, disen-.

4 begins to move together with- 20. Thereby the other I are moving a predeter-.

' 42 at atime when I of the contact plates 36.

The operation of this embodiment is the same as that of the device shown in Figs. 1 to 5; the sole difference is that the electrical contact arrangement 30 used instead of the mechanical timing device [2 is connected with other parts of the counting device only by electrical conducting wires; this makes it possible to arrange the indicating mechanism 3, clutch 4, and operating lever 2| at whatever place desired, for instance,. near to the main shaft of'the loom, thereby avoiding the necessity of mechanical transmission from this shaft to shaft 2 of the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 5, which latter shaft is mechanically connected with the timing mechanism I2, and has therefore to be arranged very close above the pathv of the woven fabric I. g In Figs, '7 and 8, anotherembodiment of an electrical contact mechanism is shown. In this embodiment the electrical circuit 28 is not closed by a sliding contact member, i. e. member 34 moved by the fabric itself, but the contact means are provided directly on the transporting roll carrying the fabric while it is woven.

It is evidentthat the surface of this roll is moving at the same speed as the fabric itself and, therefore, contact members arranged on have moved the 40 and the latter together with contact members 31 and 38 is moved by the resiliency of support 39 against the-direction of arrow 42 into the position shown in Figs. 7 and 8, breaking the contact between the contact members 31 and 38.

, Thus, the contact was closed while the transporting roll and the fabric carried by the same predetermined distance, for instance, one unit of length. During this time interval, the indicating mechanism was operated by the contact mechanism in the same manner as described in connection with the embodiment shown in Fig. 6.

After resuming its initial mechanism is ready for operation. I

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may alsor'find a useful application in other types of position, the contact pick counting devices differing from the types described above.

While I have illustrated and described the invention as embodied in devices for counting the number of picks, I do not intend to be limited to the details shown, s'ince various modifications and structural changes may be made without fabric.

the roll surface can be used for closing the elec-- trical circuit 28 with the same result as the sliding contact member 34 carried by'fabric I.

As shown in these figures, the transporting roll 35 is provided with several contact plates 36 extending for a predetermined length, for instance-one unit of length, in direction of rotationv of roll 35. The two contact members 31 and 36 of 'circuit. 28 are insulated from each other and from the resilient plate 39 carrying the same by means of the insulating" support 40.

' A spring-like member 4| serves for holding contact members 31 and 38 in contact with the contact plate 36 when pushed by means of push button 41 in direction of arrow. Pushbutton 41 and the resilient'plate stationary support 43 near to the circumferential surface of the transporting roll 35 in such a manner that the contact members 31 and 36 can be pushed into contact with one of the contact plates 36' by means of pushbutton 41.

This contact mechanism operates as follows:

The insulating support 40 and contact members 31 and 36 carried by the same are pushed bymeans of pushbutton 41 in direction of arrow they are not just above one As shown in Fig. 9, contact members 31 and 38 are held in this pushed-down position, adapted to slide along contact plate 36, by means of the spring-like member 4| engaging the insulat ng support 40 with its recessing portion 46; When the transporting roll moves indirection of arrow 44, contact plate 36 comes into contact with the pusheddown contact members 31 and 38, closing thereby the circuit 28. This circuit stays closed until the extension 45 of the spring member 4| is pushed by projection 46 of contact plate 36 in direction of arrow 44; thereby this spring-like member 4| becomes disengaged from the insulating support 39 are mounted on a,

structions should be as the woven fabric.

said loom performing an and registering mechanism departing in any way from the spirit of my invention. Thus, for instance, it is stated in the the operating means for must be adapted to be connected by'hand to the I wish to emphasize, that within the meaning of the following claims also all concomprehended in which these operating means for sliding membersare not connected to the fabric itself but to a part of the loom which is moving at the same speed It should, furthermore, be mentioned that I have shown only sliding members provided with pins for connecting these sliding members to the fabric-or a loom part moving at the same speed as this fabric; howev'enin the same way, I also may use means forconnecting the sliding members to the fabric. Thus, for instance, the contacting faces of the sliding members may be made adhesive or they may be provided with magnetic means in order. to keep the sliding member in contact with ing at the same speed as the woven fabric.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of my invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt 1. Device for counting and registering the number of picks in a certain predetermined length'of fabric as' this fabric is being woven on a 106m, comprising in combination a part of during weaving of each filling pick, -a counting constructed to count and register the number of said movements performed by said loom part, and a cloth measuring mechanism constructed and arranged so as to connect said loom part with said counting and registering mechanism when required and to disconnect them automatically at the moment the next counting a part of the loom mov-" identical movement 1 when said fabric has moved from the moment of connecting said loom part with said counting and registering mechanism a distance equal to said predetermined length of fabric in which the number of picks has to be counted.

2. Device for counting and registering the number of picks in a certain predetermined length of fabric as this fabric is being woven on a loom, comprising in combination a rotating shaft carrying out one revolution during weaving of each filling pick, a counting and registering mechanism constructed to count and register the number of said revolutions of said shaft and a cloth measuring mechanism constructed and arranged so as to connect said shaft with said counting and registering mechanism when required and to disconnect them automatically at the moment when said fabric has moved from the moment of connecting said shaft with said counting and registering mechanism a distance equal to said predetermined length of fabric in which the number of picks has to be counted.

3. Device for counting and registering the number of picks in a certain predetermined length of fabric as the sam is being woven on a loom, comprising in combination a part of said loom constructed to perform an identical movement during weaving of each filling pick, a counting and registering mechanism constructed to count and register the number of said movements performed by said loom part, a clutch mechanism constructed to temporarily connect said loom part and said counting and registering mechanism, and a cloth measuring mechanism constructed and arranged so as to engage said clutch mechanism when required and to disengage the same at the moment when said fabric has moved from the moment of engaging said clutch mechanism a distance equal to said predetermined length of fabricin which the number of picks has to be counted.

4. Device for counting and registering the number of picks in a certain predetermined length of fabric as the same is being woven on a loom, comprising 1n combination a rotating shaft performing one revolution during weaving of each filling pick, a counting and registering mechanism constructed to count and register the number of said revolutions performed by said shaft, a clutch mechanism constructed to temporarily connect said shaft and said counting and registering mechanism, and a cloth measuring mechanism constructed and arranged so as to engagesaid clutch mechanism when required and to disengage the same at the moment when said fabric has moved from the moment of engaging said clutch mechanism a distance equal to said predetermined length of fabric in which the number of picks has to be counted.

5. Device for counting and registering the number of picks in a certain predetermined length of fabric as this fabric is being woven on a loom, comprising in combination a rotating shaft performing one revolution during weaving of each filling pick, a counting and registering mechanism constructed to count and register the number of said revolutions of said shaft, a loom part moving at the same speed as the wovenfabric, and a clothmeasuring mechanism constructed and arranged so as to connect said rotating shaftwith said counting and registering mechanism when required and to disconnect them automatically at the moment when said loom part has moved from the moment of connecting said rotating shaft with said counting and registering mechanism a distance equal to that length of fabric in which the number of picks has to be counted,

6. Device for counting and registering the number of picks in a certain predetermined length of fabric as this fabric is being woven on a loom, comprising in combination a part of said loom performing an identical movement during weaving of each filling pick, a counting and registering mechanism constructed to count and to register the number of said movements performed by said loom part, a rotating transporting roll for the woven fabric, and a cloth measuring mechanism actuated by said transporting roll and constructed and arranged so as to connect said loom part with said counting and registering mechanism when required and to disconnect them automatically at the moment when a surface point of said transporting roll has moved from the moment of connecting said loom part with said counting and registering mechanism a distance equal to that length of fabric in which the number of picks has to be counted.

'7. Device for counting and registering the number of picks in a certain predetermined length of fabric as'the same is being woven on a loom, comprising in combination a part of said loom performing an identical movement during weaving of each filling pick, a counting and reg istering mechanism constructed to count and register the number of said movements performed by said loom part, a clutch mechanism temporarily connecting said loom part and said counting and registering mechanism, a rotatable transporting roll for said woven fabric, and cloth measuring means actuated by said rotatable transporting roll and constructed and arranged so as to engage said clutch mechanism when required and to disengage the same at the moment when a point of the surface of said rotatable transporting roll has moved from the moment of engaging said clutch mechanism a distance equal to that length of fabric in which the number of picks has to be counted.

8. Device for counting and registering the number of picks in a certain predetermined the woven fabric itself and constructed and arranged so as to engage said clutch mechanism when required and to disengage the same at the moment when said'fabric has moved from the moment of engaging said clutch mechanism a distance equal to said predetermined length of fabric in which the number of picks has to be counted.

9. Device for counting and registering the number of picks in a certain predetermined length of fabric as the same is being woven on a loom, comprising in combination a part of said loom performing an identical movement during Weaving of each filling pick, a counting and registering mechanism constructed to count and register the number of said movements performed by said loom part, a clutch mechanism temporarily connecting said loom part and said I counting and registering mechanism, a spring -member tending to keep said clutch disengaged,

an electromagnet engaging said clutch when energized, and cloth measuring means constructed and arranged so as to energize said electromagnet when required and to keep the same energized until said fabric has moved from mechanism constructed to temporarily connect said loom part and said counting mechanism, a spring member tending to keep said clutch disengaged, an electromagnet constructed to engage said clutch when energized, an electrical circuit including said electromagnet, a source of cur rent in said electrical circuit, and cloth measuring means constructed and arranged so asto close said circuit when required and to open said circuit automatically at the moment when said fabric has moved from the moment of said closing of said circuit a distance equal to that length of fabric in which the number of picks has to be counted.

11. Device for counting and registering the number of picks in a certain predetermined length of fabric as the same is being woven on a loom, comprising in'combination a part of said loom constructed to perform an identical movement during weaving of each filling pick, a counting and registering mechanism constructed to count and register the number of said movements performed by said loom part, a clutch mechanism constructed to temporarily connect said loom part and said counting and registering mechanism, a lever arrangement constructed to engage and disengage said clutch mechanism, a spring member tending to hold said lever in a position in which said clutch is disengaged, and

I a sliding cloth measuring member constructed and arranged so as to be attached to the moving woven fabric when required, to engage and hold said lever in a position engaging said clutch mechanism, and to disengage said lever automatically when said fabric has movedfrom the moment of said ngaging of said lever a distance equal to that length of fabric in which the number of picks has to be counted.

12. Device for counting and registeringthe number of picks in a certain predetermined length of fabric as the same is being Woven on a loom, comprising in combination a part of said loom constructed to ment during weaving of each filling pick, a counting and registering mechanism constructed to count and register the number of said movements performed by said loom part, a clutch mechanism constructed to temporarily connect said loom part and said counting and registering I mechanism, a spring member tending to hold said clutch mechanism in disengaged position, a lever arrangement constructed clutch mechanism, a plate-shaped support arthe moment of said engaging of said lever a'disthe number of picks has to be counted.

13. Device for counting and registering the number of picks in a certain predetermined length of fabric as the same is being woven on a loom, comprising in combination a part of said loom constructed to perform an identical movement during weaving of each filling pick, a counting and registering mechanism constructed to count and register the number of said movements performed by said loom part, a clutch mechanism constructed to temporarily connect said loom part and said counting and registering member tending to keep said clutch disengaged, an electromagnet constructed to engage said clutch when e'nergized, an electrical circuit including said electromagnet, a source of current in said electrical circuit, aplate shaped stationary support arranged near the surface of the woven fabric, one pair of stationary' contact members arranged on said support and forming one point of interruption of said electrical circuit, and a sliding cloth measuring contact member constructed and arranged so as to be attached by hand tothe moving ARNOLD EDDY.

perform an identical moveto engage said 

